Optical mechanism

ABSTRACT

An optical mechanism is provided, including a housing, a holder, a lens received in the holder, a driving assembly, and a base connected to the housing. The holder is movably disposed in the housing, and the lens has a first surface exposed to a first side of the holder and facing a first inner sidewall surface of the housing. The driving assembly is disposed in the housing for driving the holder and the lens to move relative to the housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority claims priority of provisional U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 62/529,806, filed on Jul. 7, 2017 and ChinaPatent Application No. 201810708058.X filed on Jul. 2, 2018, theentirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The application relates in general to an optical mechanism, and inparticular, to an optical mechanism having an optical lens.

Description of the Related Art

As technology has advanced, a lot of electronic devices (such as camerasand smartphones) have incorporated the functionality of takingphotographs and recording video. These electronic devices have becomemore commonplace, and have been developed to be more convenient andthin.

In some electronic devices, several coils and magnets correspondingthereto may be provided in a driving mechanism for adjusting the focusof a camera lens. However, miniaturization of the electronic devices maycause there to be inadequate space to accommodate the driving mechanism,and addressing the aforementioned problems in mechanism design hasbecome a challenge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned problems, the object of the invention isto provide an optical mechanism that includes a housing, a holder, alens received in the holder, a driving assembly, and a base connected tothe housing. The holder is movably disposed in the housing, and the lenshas a first surface exposed to a first side of the holder and facing afirst inner sidewall surface of the housing. The driving assembly isdisposed in the housing for driving the holder and the lens to moverelative to the housing.

In some embodiments, the lens further has a second surface exposed to asecond side of the holder and facing a second inner sidewall surface ofthe housing, and the second side is opposite to the first side.

In some embodiments, the driving assembly has a coil and a magneticunit, the magnetic unit is affixed to the housing, and the coil isaffixed to a third side of the holder, wherein the third side isadjacent to the first and second sides.

In some embodiments, the first surface protrudes from the first side ofthe holder.

In some embodiments, the first surface is a flat surface.

In some embodiments, the first surface is aligned with the holder.

In some embodiments, the optical mechanism further comprises ananti-reflection layer formed on the first inner sidewall surface.

In some embodiments, the optical mechanism further comprises an inklayer disposed on the first surface.

In some embodiments, the driving assembly has a coil and a magneticunit, the magnetic unit is affixed to the housing, and the coil isaffixed to the holder and covers at least a part of the first surface.

In some embodiments, when the holder moves to a limit position relativeto the housing, the lens contacts the housing or the base to restrictthe holder in the limit position.

An embodiment of the invention further provides an optical mechanismthat includes a housing, a holder movably disposed in the housing, alens disposed in the holder, a driving assembly, and a base connected tothe housing. The lens has a first surface, a second surface, a thirdsurface, and a fourth surface, wherein the first surface is parallel tothe third surface, and the second surface is parallel to the fourthsurface. The driving assembly is disposed in the housing for driving theholder and the lens to move relative to the housing.

In some embodiments, the first and second surfaces are respectivelyexposed to the first and second sides of the holder, and the first andsecond surfaces respectively face a first inner sidewall surface and asecond inner sidewall surface of the housing, wherein the second side isopposite to the first side.

In some embodiments, the optical mechanism further comprises ananti-reflection layer formed on the first inner sidewall surface.

In some embodiments, the optical mechanism further comprises an inklayer disposed on the first surface.

In some embodiments, the third surface is exposed to a third side of theholder, and the third side is adjacent to the first and second sides.

In some embodiments, the fourth surface is exposed to a fourth side ofthe holder, and the fourth side is opposite to the third side.

In some embodiments, the third and fourth surfaces are perpendicular tothe first and second surfaces.

In some embodiments, area of the third surface is less than that of thefirst surface.

In some embodiments, the driving assembly has a coil and a magneticunit, the magnetic unit is affixed to the housing, and the coil isaffixed to the holder and covers at least a part of the first surface.

In some embodiments, the optical mechanism further comprises a positionsensing element disposed on the first side of the holder to detect thedisplacement of the holder relative to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequentdetailed description and examples with references made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an optical mechanism according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective diagram of the optical mechanism in FIG. 1after assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2 in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5-8 are perspective diagrams from different viewing angles showingthe holder 20, the lens unit L, and the coils C of the optical mechanismin FIG. 1 after assembly.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective diagrams from different viewing anglesshowing a holder 20, a lens unit L, and two coils C of an opticalmechanism after assembly, according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder 20, a lens L4, and twocoils C of an optical mechanism after assembly, according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder 20 and a lens L4 of anoptical mechanism after assembly, according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 13-15 are perspective diagrams from different viewing anglesshowing a holder 20 and a lens unit L received in the holder 20 of anoptical mechanism, according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The making and using of the embodiments of the optical mechanism arediscussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that theembodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can beembodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to makeand use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated thateach term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should beinterpreted as having a meaning conforming to the relative skills andthe background or the context of the present disclosure, and should notbe interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner unless definedotherwise.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and in which specificembodiments of which the invention may be practiced are shown by way ofillustration. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,”“bottom,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with referenceto the orientation of the figures being described. The components of thepresent invention can be positioned in a number of differentorientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for thepurposes of illustration and is in no way limiting.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, wherein FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of anoptical mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2shows a perspective diagram of the optical mechanism in FIG. 1 afterassembly, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 inFIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the optical mechanism in this embodimentprimarily comprises a housing 10, a frame F, an upper spring S1, ahollow holder 20, a lens unit L, at least a coil C, at least a magneticunit M, two lower springs S2, a base 30, and a circuit board P. Theholder 20 has a quadrilateral structure for holding the lens unit L, andthe circuit board P can be affixed to the base 30 or the housing 10.

The optical mechanism may be disposed in a portable electronic device(e.g. cell phone or tablet computer). In this embodiment, the opticalmechanism is electrically connected to an external circuit unit (notshown) via two conductive pins 31 on the base 30 for adjusting theposition of the holder 20 and the optical unit L. Therefore, light canbe guided through the optical unit L and focused onto a photosensitiveelement (not shown) to generate a clear image, so that auto-focus andauto-zoom control of the optical unit L can be achieved. In an exemplaryembodiment, the optical mechanism may comprise a Voice Coil Motor (VCM).

The optical unit L may include one or several optical lenses, whereinsome of the lenses protrude from the holder 20 and are exposed to afirst side 21 or/and a second side 22 of the holder 20. Additionally,two oval-shaped coils C are disposed on a third side 23 and a fourthside 24 of the holder 20, corresponding to the magnetic units M. In thisembodiment, each of the magnetic units M includes two magnets M1 and M2with opposite polar directions.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame F is affixed to an innersurface of the housing 10, wherein the housing 10 and the base 30 canform a case module with the frame F, the holder 20, the lens unit L, thecoil C, the upper and lower springs S1 and S2, and the magnetic units Mreceived therein. Here, the holder 20 is connected to the frame F andthe base 30 via the upper and lower springs S1 and S2, respectively. Asa result, the holder 20 and the optical unit received therein can besuspended within the housing 10 and movable relative to the housing and10 the base 30 along an optical axis O of the optical unit L (parallelto the Z axis). A retainer R is provided at the bottom of the holder 20to restrict the optical unit L within the holder 20 and prevent theoptical unit L from being separated from the holder 20.

In this embodiment, at least a coil C and a magnetic unit Mcorresponding thereto can constitute a driving assembly, wherein thecoil C is electrically connected to the conductive pins 31 viaconductive wires (not shown), and the conductive pins 31 areelectrically connected to an external circuit unit for driving the coilC. When the external circuit unit applies a current to the coil C, anelectromagnetic unit force can be generated between the coil C and themagnetic unit M, thereby driving the holder 20, the optical unit L, andthe coil C to move along the optical axis O (Z axis) and achievingauto-focus and/or auto-zoom control of the optical unit L.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, the optical unit L in this embodimentincludes five lenses L1-L5 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are affixed to an innersurface of the holder 20 by adhesion. Specifically, the lenses L4 and L5located at the bottom of the optical unit L protrude from the holder 20in a horizontal direction, and they are exposed to a first side 21 and asecond side 22 of the holder 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the lens L4 has afirst surface L41 and a second surface L42, wherein the first surfaceL41 protrudes from the holder 20 and is exposed to the first side 21,and the second surface L42 protrudes from the holder 20 and is exposedto the second side 22. Thus, the dimension of the holder 20 along the Yaxis can be efficiently reduced to facilitate miniaturization of theoptical mechanism. However, in some embodiments, the second surface L42of the lens L4 may be covered by the second side 22 of the holder 20,and only the first surface L41 is exposed to the first side of theholder 20, so as to reduce the dimension of the holder 20 along the Yaxis.

It should be noted that the first and second surfaces L41 and L42 arelocated on opposite sides of the lens L4 and respectively facing a firstinner sidewall surface 11 or/and a second inner sidewall surface 12 ofthe housing 10, as shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, ananti-reflection layer or an ink layer may be formed on the first surfaceL41 and/or the second surface L42 of the lens L4 to prevent opticalinterference caused by light reflection. Similarly, an anti-reflectionlayer or an ink layer may also be formed on the first inner sidewallsurface 11 or/and the second inner sidewall surface 12 of the housing 10to prevent optical interference caused by light reflection.

Since the lenses L4 and L5 protrude from the holder 20 and are exposedto the first and second sides 21 and 22, they can directly contact thehousing 10 or the base 30 to restrict the holder 20 and the lens unit Lin a limit position when the optical mechanism is impacted by anexternal force. Therefore, there is no need to provide a positioningstructure on the holder 20, so as to save the production cost andfacilitate miniaturization of the optical mechanism.

FIGS. 5-8 show perspective diagrams from different viewing angles of theholder 20, the lens unit L, and the coils C of the optical mechanism inFIG. 1 after assembly. Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the lenses L4 and L5 areexposed to the first and second sides 21 and 22 of the holder 20, andtwo coils C are respectively disposed on a third side 23 and a fourthside 24 of the holder 20, respectively. Here, the third and fourth sides23 and 23 are adjacent to the first and second sides 21 and 22.

In this embodiment, at least one position sensing element H may bedisposed in the recess formed on the first side 21 or the second side 22of the holder 20 for detecting the displacement of the holder 20 and thelens unit L relative to the housing 10. For example, the positionsensing element H may be a magnet, and a Hall sensor may be disposed onthe circuit board P corresponding to the magnet. As the Hall sensor candetect the magnetic field variation of the magnet due to their relativemovement, the displacement of the holder 20 and the lens unit L relativeto the housing 10 can be determined. Specifically, there are twoposition sensing elements H (magnets) disposed on the same side of theholder 20, as shown in FIGS. 5-8. The two position sensing elements Hhave opposite polar directions and are located adjacent to a magneticsensor on the circuit board P. As a result, the magnetic field variationof the position sensing element H can be magnified and easy to detect bythe magnetic sensor, thereby increasing sensitivity and accuracy of thedisplacement detection.

In some embodiments, the position sensing element H can also be a Hallsensor, giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor, or tunnelmagnetoresistance (TMR) sensor, and a magnet can be disposed on thecircuit board P corresponding to the position sensing element H. Thus,the displacement of the holder 20 and the lens unit L relative to thehousing 10 can also be determined by the position sensing element Hdetecting the magnetic field variation of the magnet due to theirrelative movement.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective diagrams from different viewing anglesshowing a holder 20, a lens unit L, and two coils C after assembly,according to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 9and 10, the lenses L4 and L5 have at least an edge forming a flatsurface aligned with the first side 21 or the second side 22 of theholder 20. In an exemplary embodiment, the first surface L41 or thesecond surface L42 of the lens L4 may be a flat surface exposed to thefirst side 21 or the second side 22 of the holder 20, so that thedimension of the entire optical mechanism along the Y axis can befurther reduced.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder 20, a lens L4, and twocoils C after assembly, according to another embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 11, in addition to the first and secondsurfaces L41 and L42, the third and fourth surfaces L43 and L44 of thelens L4 are also flat surfaces. In this embodiment, only the first andsecond surfaces L41 and L42 are exposed to the first and second sides 21and 22 of the holder 20 and face the first and second inner sidewallsurfaces 11 and 12, and the third and fourth surfaces L43 and L44 arenot exposed to the third and fourth sides 23 and 24 of the holder 20,wherein the area of the third surface L43 (or the fourth surface L44) isless than the first surface L41 (or the second surface L42).

It should be noted that the two coils C in this embodiment arerespectively disposed on the first side 21 and the second side 22,corresponding to the magnetic units M affixed to the housing 10. Here,the coils C can be used to cover at least a part of the first and secondsurfaces L41 and L42, so that light leakage through the lateral sides ofthe lens L4 can be prevented. In some embodiments, the first side 21and/or the second side 22 of the holder 20 may also be provided with oneor several position sensing elements (e.g. the position sensing elementsshown in FIGS. 5-8), so as to detect the displacement of the holder 20and the lens unit L relative to the housing 10.

In some embodiments, an anti-reflection layer or an ink layer may beformed on the first surface L41 and/or the second surface L42 of thelens L4, or formed on the first inner sidewall surface 11 or/and thesecond inner sidewall surface 12 of the housing 10, to prevent opticalinterference caused by light reflection into the lens L4. However, thecoils C may also be disposed on the third side 23 and/or the fourth side24, wherein the coils C and the magnetic units M can generate anelectromagnetic force driving the holder 20 and the lens unit L to moverelative to the housing 10.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a holder 20 and a lens L4 afterassembly, according to another embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces L41-L44 arerespectively exposed to the first, second, third, and fourth sides 21-24of the holder 20, so as to reduce the dimensions of the opticalmechanism along both of the X and Y axes.

FIGS. 13-15 show perspective diagrams from different viewing angles of aholder 20 and a lens unit L received in the holder 20, according toanother embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the lenses L4and L5 are exposed to the first, second, and third sides 21, 22, and 23of the holder 20, and the lenses L4 and L5 are covered by the fourthside 24 of the holder 20. As shown in FIG. 15, the lenses LA and L5 atthe bottom of the lens unit L protrude from the first, second, and thirdsides 21, 22, and 23 of the holder 20. However, the lenses L4 and L5 mayalso be aligned with the first, second, and third sides 21, 22, and 23of the holder 20, so as to reduce the dimensions of the opticalmechanism along the X and Y axes.

In summary, the optical mechanism of the invention may have at least alens exposed to a side of the holder, or the lens may have an edgeforming a flat surface, so that the dimension of the holder along thehorizontal direction can be reduced to facilitate miniaturization of theoptical mechanism.

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantageshave been described in detail, it should be understood that variouschanges, substitutions and alterations can be made herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by theappended claims. For example, it will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art that many of the features, functions, processes, andmaterials described herein may be varied while remaining within thescope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the presentapplication is not intended to be limited to the particular embodimentsof the process, machine, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinaryskill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of thepresent disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions ofmatter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to bedeveloped, that perform substantially the same function or achievesubstantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments describedherein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly,the appended claims are intended to include within their scope suchprocesses, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,methods, or steps. Moreover, the scope of the appended claims should beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and similar arrangements.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofpreferred embodiment, it should to be understood that the invention isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to thoseskilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims shouldbe accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all suchmodifications and similar arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical mechanism, comprising: a housing; a holder, movably disposed in the housing; a lens, disposed in the holder, having a first surface exposed to a first side of the holder and facing a first inner sidewall surface of the housing; a driving assembly, disposed in the housing for driving the holder and the lens to move relative to the housing; and a base, connected to the housing.
 2. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens further has a second surface exposed to a second side of the holder and facing a second inner sidewall surface of the housing, and the second side is opposite to the first side.
 3. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving assembly has a coil and a magnetic unit, the magnetic unit is affixed to the housing, and the coil is affixed to a third side of the holder, wherein the third side is adjacent to the first and second sides.
 4. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first surface protrudes from the first side of the holder.
 5. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first surface is a flat surface.
 6. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first surface is aligned with the holder.
 7. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical mechanism further comprises an anti-reflection layer formed on the first inner sidewall surface.
 8. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical mechanism further comprises an ink layer disposed on the first surface.
 9. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving assembly has a coil and a magnetic unit, the magnetic unit is affixed to the housing, and the coil is affixed to the holder and covers at least a part of the first surface.
 10. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the holder moves to a limit position relative to the housing, the lens contacts the housing or the base to restrict the holder in the limit position.
 11. An optical mechanism, comprising: a housing; a holder, movably disposed in the housing; a lens, disposed in the holder, having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface, wherein the first surface is parallel to the third surface, and the second surface is parallel to the fourth surface; a driving assembly, disposed in the housing for driving the holder and the lens to move relative to the housing; and a base, connected to the housing.
 12. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second surfaces are respectively exposed to the first and second sides of the holder, and the first and second surfaces respectively face a first inner sidewall surface and a second inner sidewall surface of the housing, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side.
 13. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the optical mechanism further comprises an anti-reflection layer formed on the first inner sidewall surface.
 14. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the optical mechanism further comprises an ink layer disposed on the first surface.
 15. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the third surface is exposed to a third side of the holder, and the third side is adjacent to the first and second sides.
 16. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 15, wherein the fourth surface is exposed to a fourth side of the holder, and the fourth side is opposite to the third side.
 17. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the third and fourth surfaces are perpendicular to the first and second surfaces.
 18. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the area of the third surface is less than that of the first surface.
 19. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driving assembly has a coil and a magnetic unit, the magnetic unit is affixed to the housing, and the coil is affixed to the holder and covers at least a part of the first surface.
 20. The optical mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the optical mechanism further comprises a position sensing element disposed on the first side of the holder to detect the displacement of the holder relative to the housing. 